Chapter 15

He rested his hand on her leg as he drove into town, his thumb moving over her skin.

Damn, he really loved it when she wore a dress. That way he was better able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her skin.

“Dexter, do you think this will be over soon? I want my life back, to be able to go out and do the things I love.”

He glanced over at her, wishing he could give her an answer.

“The person doing this is bound to make a mistake soon, and that’s when we’ll catch him. Just hang in there. You’re not alone,” he said, giving her leg a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

When they got to the Greene’s building, they went up to the front desk. Dexter wanted to talk to Chester before going up.

“Mr. Sinclair, it was Carson Miller who brought the box down. I was told a driver was coming to pick it up.

“I had it sitting right here next to me the whole time before it was taken away. No one touched it.”

“I’ll need the name of the person who picked it up,” Dexter said, taking out his notepad and writing down the name and company he worked for.

Now he wanted to go talk to the staff. He also was going to check the surveillance tapes.

Stepping off the elevator, Roxie was greeted by everyone who worked there, saying how sorry they were for what happened to her dress.

“News travels fast around here,” he said as they walked to her office.

“I know. They love to gossip,” she replied.

As they entered her office, Carson and Cathy were busy working on some designs, putting on the finishing touches.

They looked up and stopped working when she walked in. Carson went over to her, giving her a hug.

“I’m so sorry about your dress. Who would do such a horrible thing?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out. Dexter wants to talk to you and the others. If there’s anything you know, just tell him.”

“I’ll do anything to help,” he said, turning to look at Dexter. “How can I help?”

Dexter walked over to the desk they were working at, checking things out. “I understand you were the last one to see the dress before it was taken downstairs.”

“Yes. Well, Cathy was here, and she saw me putting it in the box and closing it. Seeing it was special. I took real good care packaging it up. I swear it was in perfect condition when I saw it last.”

“Did you take it down to the front desk right away?”

“Well, no. There was a problem in the fitting room, where one of the girls found a rip in one of our lines, so Cathy and I left the office.

“We were gone a good hour before returning, and that’s when I took it down.”

“So that would have given someone enough time to sneak in here and damage it. Since there are no cameras in here, I’ll need to see the surveillance tapes for the hallway.

“That ought to show us who came in here while you both were gone.” When he saw Carson looking nervous, he barked at him. “Is there a problem?”

His eye started twitching, and he looked nervous.

“The system in the whole building went down. We had to call in the repairman. It was out for most of the day. I’m sorry. There’s no tape for that period.”

Dexter slammed his fist on the desk and swore. “That’s just fucking great.”

Carson went over to Roxie. “I’m so sorry about your dress. I know it meant a lot to you. You’re still going to the party, right?”

“Yes. I’ll just have to find something else to wear.”

“I was wondering if you’d like to go with me? I could be your date that night.” He was glad that Cathy had left the room. He knew she was hoping he’d ask her.

She looked over at Dexter, who was listening to them. “I’m going with Dexter.”

He chuckled. “I know he has to be there, since he’s your bodyguard, but it wouldn’t look right for you to go without a date.”

“Actually, he is going to be my date.”

He looked stunned and cleared his throat. “But he’s just a bodyguard.”

“Dexter is more than that. We’re a couple,” she said, smiling brightly. It gave her tingles throughout her body saying out loud that they were an item.

“Carson, I’m really flattered that you asked me, but why don’t you ask Cathy? She’s had a crush on you for some time now.”

Dexter wiped the smirk off his face before Carson could see it. “I’m going to go talk to the others,” he said, going over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

“Promise me you’ll stay here with your friend until I get back.”

“I will,” she replied, kissing him back when he bent his head down to kiss her.

Walking past the other man, he stopped to look him in the eye. “I want you to stay with her, and don’t leave her sight, or you’ll have me to answer to.”

“We’ll be right here,” he told Dexter. When he was gone, he went over to Roxie. “So this thing between you two, is it serious?”

“It’s really none of your business, but since we are friends, I can tell you. Yes, it is, and we love each other.

“He’s the only man I’ve ever felt this way about. I never thought I would ever fall in love, but I did.”

“Well, I’m really happy for you.”

“Thank you.”

“I still have the design for that dress, so we’ll make you another one. You’ll have a chance to show it off again, maybe at one of the showings.”

Dexter came back an hour later. “I’m starving. Let’s go get something to eat,” he said, taking hold of her hand.

Sitting in the restaurant, and after ordering their meal, she reached over to touch his hand. “You’re awfully quiet. What’s on your mind?”

“I’m just trying to figure out who destroyed your dress.

“If it wasn’t done at the office, then it had to have happened anywhere from the time it left there or during the time it was left unattended back at the mansion.

“I’m going to have to question everyone—your family, Joseph, and the staff. There really should be cameras in every room. Without them, we won’t be able to see who went in and out of the den.”

“I can see Claudia or Joseph doing it, but surely you don’t suspect my father?”

“Everyone is a suspect right now, and your father was home. I’m just saying I’ll need to talk to him too.”

“I was home too, so am I also a suspect?” she asked, looking hurt.

“You’ve been with me the whole time, so unless you have some kind of special powers or a twin, then no, you are not a suspect.”

“But Claudia thinks I’m doing this myself, for attention.”

“Claudia is an evil witch who likes to cause trouble. Between you and me, she is my top suspect.

“I know your father made her sign a prenup, but with you out of the way, she could talk him into getting rid of it.”

“If that’s the case, then why is she so eager to marry me off to Joseph?”

He thought about it for a minute before speaking. “If she’s not the one trying to have you killed, then perhaps she figures if you marry Joseph and move away she’ll have your father all to herself.

“The woman is jealous of how much he loves and spoils you. With you marrying into money, Thomas just might tear up the prenup.”

After they finished their meal, he paid the bill, and they headed home, and since it had turned into a hot day, she felt like going for a swim.

When they got home, she put her arms around his neck. “I’m going for a swim. Would you like to join me?”

As much as he liked the thought of seeing her in her bikini, he had other things to attend to.

“Maybe later. Right now, I want to talk to the others and the staff. You go ahead, but stay by the pool, and don’t go anywhere else.”

“You’re so bossy,” she said, placing her lips close to his. “Are you going to kiss me or not?” she asked, smiling at him.

“Oh,” she gasped when his arms went around her and he slammed her body against his and kissed her. When the kiss ended, she walked away, leaving him with a woody.

Neither one knew that someone was watching them from around the corner.

Dexter started questioning the staff while she went and got ready to go swimming. With her bathing suit on, she went down to the pool and wasted no time getting in.

After everything that had happened, swimming seemed to help with some of the tension. She got to thinking about Carson, how hurt he’d looked when he found out she and Dexter were a couple.

It was also a shock when he’d asked if he could be her date for the party. They had always just been friends, and it never occurred to her that he liked her in that way.

She hadn’t been swimming very long when she heard a splash behind her. Thinking it was Dexter, she smiled. “I was wondering what was taking you so long.”

“I knew you still wanted me.”

Her smile disappeared, and she turned around and saw Joseph swimming toward her. “I thought it was Dexter, not you, and no way did I ever want you.”

He stopped in front of her. A smug look appeared on his face. “That’s not what you said the night we fucked each other.”

“You sick bastard. That was a long time ago, and I was drunk. You took advantage of me.

“I don’t even remember anything about it, just waking up feeling sore and sick to my stomach at the thought of what you did to me.”

“Hey, I didn’t rape you.”

“Maybe not, but it sure felt like it.”

“You kissed me back and pulled me into your room, so don’t play the victim now.”

“As I said, I was drunk, and I know that’s no excuse, but that doesn’t mean that we were ever a couple or that I want anything to do with you now.”

Before she could swim away, he grabbed her, slamming her up against the wall of the pool, putting his hands on either side of her head.

“Let me go,” she yelled at him.

Instead of letting her go, he moved his face so that it was almost touching hers. “I know what you’re doing. You’re playing hard to get. I don’t like games. And mark my words: someday I will have you.

“Have your fun for now with the bodyguard, because soon I will have you in my bed, and you will be my wife.”

“Never,” she hissed, trying to get away from him. But he grabbed her wrists and pinned them behind her back with his one hand.

He used his other hand to go down inside her bikini bottom and start touching her. She moved her head from side to side when he tried to kiss her. “Joseph, stop. Please stop.”

“Get the fuck away from her, or I’ll blow your fucking head off.”

They both turned their heads toward Dexter, who was glaring and pointing his gun at Joseph. Roxie quickly moved away and started swimming toward him.

When she got to the edge of the pool, he held out his hand and helped her out. Lowering his gun, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her.

“I didn’t know he was coming out here,” she said, her eyes tearing up when she looked at him. She felt so violated when Joseph touched her down below.

He placed the palm of his hand on her right cheek. “I know you didn’t. Go inside.”

He had heard everything that was being said between them, knowing that Joseph more or less raped her. A drunk woman isn’t always capable of making good decisions.

Nodding her head and clutching the towel, she did as she was told. All she wanted to do right now was go take a hot shower and scrub the feel of Joseph’s hand off of her.

When she was gone, he turned back to Joseph. “If you ever lay another hand on her again, I will kill you.”

“What’s the matter, Mr. Sinclair? Are you afraid of a little friendly competition?”

“There is no competition. She’s mine, not yours, and never will be.”

“I had her once, and I will have her again.”

Dexter felt his blood boiling and wanted so bad to shoot the bastard right in the head, but instead he squatted down, staring at him with hate and anger.

“The only way you can get a woman is to get her drunk and take advantage of her, the way you did to Roxie. Now, this is the last time I’m going to warn you. Stay the hell away from her.”

“You really think she’s yours, don’t you? Let me tell you something. After the party she just might change her mind.

“Enjoy your time with her. It’s going to end soon,” he said with a smirk on his face and started swimming.

Dexter turned his back on Joseph and walked toward the house. He knew if he had stayed there a moment longer and listened to him, he would have done something that couldn’t be undone.

He kept thinking about what Joseph had said about after the party. He knew the man was up to something, so he would have to keep a close eye on him.